Ahmed ibn Hanbal
() (780 - 855 CE, 164 - 241 AH) was an important Muslim Scholar and theologian born in Khorasan to a family of an Arab origin He is considered the founder of the Hanbali school of Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence). His full name was Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Hanbal Abu `Abd Allah al-Shaybani. Shayban or Banu Shaybah is Ibn Hanbla's tribe. it is an Arabic tribe located in Arabia and it still exists in Arabia ( Saudi Arabia) (أحمد بن محمد بن حنبل أبو عبدالله الشيباني).
Biography[]
Ahmad ibn Hanbal was born at Merv, in Khorassanin 780 , the city in which his parents were living. Ibn Hanbal's family was of Arabic origin and they spoke Arabic. they belonged to the Arabic tribe Banu Shaibah ( Arabic بنو شيبه) which still exists in Arabia (Saudi Arabia) , his uncle sent Ibn Hanbal with several documents containing information about some people to the Caliphate. He took the papers and when his uncle eventually met him, he discovered that he had not delivered them but rather threw them into the sea because, out of the fear of God, he didn't want to be an informant. To this, his uncle replied: "This little boy fears Allah so much! What then of us?"
- Al-Mutawakkil is said to have wished to take care of all Ibn Hanbal's affairs. Ibn Hanbal, however, turned down the offers due to his general dislike of being close to rulers. Al-Mutwakkil, knowing that Ibn Hanbal would refuse his offerings, instead presented some gifts to his son Salih. When it came to his knowledge, Ibn Hanbal showed strong disapproval and refused to consume anything from his son’s wealth.
Quotes[]
- It is said that, when told that it was religiously permissible to say what pleases his persecuters without believing in it at the time of mihna, he said "If I remained silent and you remained silent, then who will teach the ignorant?".
- “The graves of sinners from People of Sunnah is a garden, while the graves of the pious ascetics from the People of Innovation is a barren pit. The sinners among Ahlus Sunnah are the Friends of Allaah, while the pious among Ahlul-People of Innovation are the Enemies of Allaah.”
Further reading[]
Biography[]
- Ibn al-Jawzi, Manaqib al-Imam Ahmad
- Nadwi, S. A. H. A., Saviors of Islamic Spirit (Vol. 1), translated by Mohiuddin Ahmad, Academy of Islamic Research and Publications, Lucknow, 1971.
- Melchert, Christopher, Ahmad ibn Hanbal (Makers of the Muslim World), Oneworld, 2006.
See also[]
- Notable Hanbali Scholars
- Taba Taba'een
References[]